Chapter One
My motorbike roars into the car park, and I realise it is probably not the most inconspicuous way to arrive at the school I have been absent from for three years. As I park up, I get curious looks. This is a small town where new people are noticed. I pull off my helmet and run my hands through my now messy blonde hair. The place hasn't changed at all, but then did I really expect it to have? My memories of the last time I was here were not great. I had been crippled with the grief of losing my brother.
Another reason why I am not thrilled about being back here is Dylan James. Dylan James had been my best friend growing up. We had lived in the same street and spent all our long summer holidays riding our bikes and climbing trees. There had been no one who knew me better than him. I had always thought we would be friends forever, but all that changed with high school.
Dylan was talented at sports and I was quiet, happiest when my head was buried in a book. He became one of the popular kids, and I became one of the quiet unknowns. At first, he would still talk to me at school, we'd chat in the hallways and he'd always give me a wave when we passed each other on the school grounds. On nights he wasn't at football or rugby practice we would hang out together watching our favourite shows and eating junk food. It was when we moved into the second year everything changed and he stopped acknowledging me.
Secretly, from around the age of ten years old, I'd been in love with my best friend. I'm not sure how it happened or why, but I became aware of how beautiful his eyes were and that when he smiled, they would sparkle more. I had of course never uttered a word of my feelings to him. I never wanted to face the humiliating rejection or run the risk of ruining what was a truly great friendship. Then one sunny day I had taken out some washing to hang on the line for my mum when I had heard him on the back field with his friends.
"Hey, Dylan, why don't you invite Ella to kick about with us?" I recognised the voice as belonging to Connor Hart, and my attention was heightened at the mention of my name.
“Very funny, Hart. Why would I do that?”
This brings a laugh from Connor. “Ah, come on man, we all know the score. You think we all haven’t noticed?”
I hear Dylan scoff. “You know nothing, Hart. Besides, Ella is frigid, and she has like no boobs. She has the body of an eight-year-old.”
My heart shatters out there in my back garden as I look down at my boobs. Okay, they were small. But they were still growing.
“Okay, James, if that’s what you tell yourself.”
“Now Beth Jones definitely does not have the body of an eight-year-old.”
“Beth huh?” Connor replies. “Isn’t Beth like Ella’s arch enemy? I mean, didn’t Beth pick on her at primary?”
There’s silence for a second. “And your point is?” Dylan accuses. “Look Ella’s a geek, she likes books and it’s kinda boring.”
And that ladies and gentlemen was the day that my best friend broke my heart and the day the small bit of confidence I had in myself waved goodbye and left me. That weekend I cried in my bedroom, clutching the teddy that Dylan won me at the school fair when we were ten.
“Hey sis, why are you crying?”
I jerk up from where I am lying on my pillow to find my brother stood in my bedroom doorway. “Liam.” I quickly wipe my eyes. “I’m fine.”
He frowns at me in disbelief and walks into the room and sits beside me on my bed. “Who upset you? Do I need to go kick someone’s arse?”
I laugh and sigh. “I overheard Dylan say some means things about me today.”
“Like what?”
I shrug, not wanting to repeat the words out loud that broke my heart. “That I’m..., frigid, and that I have the body of an eight-year-old.” I let out a big breath, yeah saying it really hurt. “I mean, I know my boobs aren’t huge, but I wear a bra.”
My brother holds his hands up. “Okay, I am so not down for discussing the size of your boobs, cos that is just weird, but El don’t waste another tear on Dylan. If he can talk about you, who he’s known since nursery school like that, then he isn’t worth a second of your time.”
I smile sadly and nudge him with my shoulder. “When did you get so wise, brother?”
He grins and nudges me back. “I’ve always been wise; you have just been too dumb to see it.”
“Oh, really?” I grin. “Thanks, Liam. For making me feel better.”
“Anytime. Do you want me to beat him up for you?” He asks, his dark eyes sparkling with promise.
I laugh and return his grin. “No thanks. I know just how to handle this. Like you say he isn’t worth a second of my time.”
The following day I was standing in the school canteen at the vending machine when I’d felt a presence at my back. I turned to find Dylan standing behind me.
“Hey Ell’s.”
I glared at him and turned back towards the machine and punched my selection on the keypad angrily.